Cheer Boys!! adapts Ryō Asai's novel. The anime will premiere streaming in the US on July 5 at 10:30 a.m. The series will premiere in Japan on Tokyo MX, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, and TV Aichi on July 5, and on BS11 on July 6. Funimation describes the story:

Haruki Bandou was born into a family of Judo marital artists and expected to continue the family legacy. But he's about to trade Judo for…cheerleading?! When his childhood friend Kazuma Hashimoto invites him to join the BREAKERS, a male cheerleading club, Haru finds himself amongst a quirky group of boys. Can this squad of slightly odd and cute members make a breakthrough in college athletics?

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. adapts Shūichi Asō's manga from Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump. The anime will premiere in Japan as a "double broadcast," airing in the mornings Mondays-Fridays within the Oha-Suta ("Good Morning Star") program on TV Tokyo, and at night on TV Tokyo, TV Aichi, and TV Osaka. The morning broadcast will air five episodes each week, and the late-night broadcast will collect those five episodes and air them together. The anime's morning broadcast will premiere on July 4 at 7:05 a.m., and the late-night broadcast will premiere on July 10 at 25:35 (effectively July 11 at 1:35 a.m.).

Funimation describes the story:

Kusuo Saiki is a typical 16-year-old high school student… except he has psychic powers. He can use them to get whatever he wants, but he also knows everything that people are thinking. Everything. No surprises, no secrets, no normal human experiences. He's kept his powers in check since childhood, but with the temptations of high school now on his mind, he's bending the rules—and spoons.

Puzzle & Dragons X ties to the Nintendo 3DS puzzle role-playing game, which is slated to ship in Japan on July 28 in two versions: "Kami no Shō" (God Chapter) and "Ryū no Shō" (Dragon Chapter). The anime will premiere on July 4 on TV Tokyo, and will air on Mondays at 6:25 p.m.

Funimation describes the story:

From the Studio Pierrot, that brought you Kingdom and Tokyo Ghoul comes a series based off of the hit game Puzzle & Dragons. Dorogoza Island is rich in “Drop Energy” that players can use on friendly monsters. Once strong enough, they can face enemies in puzzle wars. Winners reap rewards, but what happens to the losers? Only the brave can take on these monstrous challenges

Anime Limited made the following announcements:
- Anime Limited confirms it will be distributing titles for Funimation. "We're very excited to be able to help bring fans in the UK many titles from Funimation's catalogue, including the continuation of the Fairy Tail series on DVD."
Unless otherwise noted all release are Blu-ray/DVD combi pack releases, "following the standard formula that has been set for Funimation releases abroad." July 25 - Yona of the Dawn Part 1 (pictured) July 25 - Gonna be the Twin-Tail!!August 15 - Fairy Tail Part 10 [DVD Only] August 29 - No-Rin

Also, the following titles are listed as 'coming very soon,' release dates TBC:

Film distribution company Eleven Arts and Toei Animation announced on Wednesday that they will release an English language version of Digimon Adventure tri. – Chapter 1: Reunion in theaters in the United States. The companies will hold a one-night Fathom Events screening in more than 300 US theaters on September 15, followed by a national theatrical release in major cities. Voice actorJeff Nimoy previously confirmed over Twitter that he would reprise his role as Tentomon for the English dub.
The Digimon Adventure tri. project, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of Digimon Adventure (the first entry in the series), will have a total of six films. While the anime's human characters have a completely different Japanese voice cast from the original Digimon Adventure, the Digimon partners feature the same Japanese cast.
The first film, Digimon Adventure tri. Saikai (Reunion), opened in Japanese theaters last November, and Crunchyroll began streaming the film on the same day as four episodes. The second film, Digimon Adventure tri. Ketsui (Determination), opened in Japan on March 12 for a three-week run in theaters in Japan. Crunchyroll began streaming the film as four episodes on March 11.
The third film, Digimon Adventure tri. Kokuhaku, will open in Japan for three weeks on September 24, and will be available for paid streaming in Japan on the same day. The Blu-ray Disc of the film will be on sale at theaters on the same day, and the general release on Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be on November 2. Update:Eleven Arts and Toei updated their press release to say that the Fathom Events screening will be one night only on September 15. The national theatrical release was slated for October, but no window was given for the national theatrical release in the new press release. English poster added

Voice actorJeff Nimoyconfirmed on his official Twitter account on Tuesday that he will reprise his role as Tentomon in an upcoming English-dubbed version of the Digimon Adventure tri. anime. He added that he will not direct the dub, as he has done for multiple Digimon series in the past.
The Digimon Adventure tri. project, which celebrates the 15th anniversary of Digimon Adventure (the first entry in the series), will have a total of six films. While the anime's human characters have a completely different Japanese voice cast from the original Digimon Adventure, the Digimon partners feature the same Japanese cast.

The third film, Digimon Adventure tri. Kokuhaku, will open in Japan for three weeks on September 24, and will be available for paid streaming in Japan on the same day. The Blu-ray Disc of the film will be on sale at theaters on the same day, and the general release on Blu-ray Disc and DVD will be on November 2.

Life is too short to be dull. Be interesting. Because not very much else matters does it? In large areas of our lives, hardly anything matters at all. I mean, nothing can beat being with loving friends, and a few wines, and a few beers, and a few lies, and a few yarns. And to still be adored after 40-odd years… yeah that’s the life.

Maybe I’m the longest-serving actor, in the whole history of actors, who’s actually still, 40-odd years later, adored for the same part and enjoying it in the same way. When I get sent messages from middle-aged men… or from the wives of middle-aged men, who say, ‘Tell Mr Baker he cannot imagine how important he was to my beloved husband when he was a boy’… it moves me deeply to think about it.

I was just going to work. I didn’t know, to begin with, how far-reaching this role would be. I was aware of the excitement, and the generosity, and the affection of the fans, but how could I ever have dreamed of all this?

Also featured in the magazine is Part One of brand-new comic strip The Pestilent Heart, an extended Gallifrey Guardian reporting on the latest news from the set of the new series, and DWM’s issue 500 celebrations, competitions and the much-anticipated Cave of 500 Eyes answers.

The souvenir edition, available from 30 June and priced £5.99, comes in a polybag containing four art cards, two classic mini-posters, and a multi-Doctor poster.

Doctor Who Magazine 501 is on sale from Thursday 30 June 2016, price £5.99.

As well as starring the Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth Doctors, the series also features their comic companions – Gabby, Cindy, Alice, Rose (Billy Piper) and Captain Jack (John Barrowman)!

Issue #1 is available in stores and on digital platforms on Wednesday, July 6th 2016, supported by Titan’s third annual Doctor Who Comics Day event.

This year’s global Doctor Who Comics Day event on Saturday, July 9th, is set to be even bigger than previous years with new comics and collections, merchandise, variant covers, signings, and events across the globe at comic shops, bookstores, libraries, and on digital platforms.

Exiled from Gallifrey at the very end of Time, Rassilon, fallen leader of the Time Lords, has been captured by the last of the Cybermen. Now the Cybermen have access to time travel. With it, every defeat is now a victory. Every foe is now dead — or Cyberized. Titan Comics’ 2016 Doctor Who event — and the biggest Doctor Who story of the year — begins here!

The debut issue comes with five variant covers to collect: an art cover by series artist Alessandro Vitti, a photo cover by Will Brooks, a cool Cybermen variant by Fabio Listrani, a blank sketch variant, and a fun coloring variant.

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Godzilla/Breaking Bad/Macross Plus star teases voice he will use in March 2017 film

Entertainment news program Entertainment Tonight posted a video interview with actor Bryan Cranston on Monday. In the video, Cranston elaborates on his recently announced role as Zordon in the new Power Rangersfilm. He reveals that he is also doing motion capture work for the film, and that the film will use "a lot of CG work" for the character.

Cranston previously voiced Snizzard and Twin Man in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. He also played the main lead Isamu Dyson in the English dub of Macross Plus and contributed to the English dubs of Armitage III and other anime. He starred in Gareth Edwards and Legendary Pictures' 2014 Godzilla film, the multiple-Emmy-winning Breaking Bad television series, and the Malcolm in the Middle television series.

Lionsgate describes the new Power Rangers film:

Saban's Power Rangers follows five ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove – and the world – is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. Chosen by destiny, our heroes quickly discover that they are the only ones who can save the planet. But to do so they will have to overcome their real-life issues and band together as the Power Rangers before it is too late.

The film stars R.J. Cyler as the Blue Ranger Billy, Naomi Scott as the Pink Ranger Kimberly, Ludi Lin as the Black Ranger Zack, Dacre Montgomery as the Red Ranger Jason, and Becky Gomez as the Yellow Ranger Trini. In addition, Elizabeth Banks will play Rita Repulsa and David Denman will play Sam Scott, the father of the Red Ranger. Entertainment Weekly magazine previously revealed the designs for the hero costumes in the film in May. According to the magazine, the outfits are "translucent extraterrestrial armor that crystallizes around their bodies."

Dean Israelite (Project Almanac) is on board to direct the film. John Gatins (Kong: Skull Island, Real Steel), Burk Sharpless and Matt Sazama (Dracula Untold), Max Landis (Chronicle), and Zack Stentz and Ashley Miller (X-Men: First Class, Thor) are scriptwriters for the film. Brian Tyler (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Dragonball: Evolution) is composing the film's score. Kelli Jones (Straight Outta Compton, Sons of Anarchy) is serving as costume designer, Hamish Purdy (The Revenant) is in charge of set design, and Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings) is handling suit design and visual effects. Paul Jennings is the stunt coordinator, Andrew Menzies is the production designer, and Matt Lloyd is director of photography.
Allison Shearmur and Brent O'Connor are serving as executive producers. Haim Saban, Brian Casentini (Power Rangers TV series), Wyck Godfrey, and Marty Bowen are producing the film.
The film is planned for a March 2017 release.

Actor and MMA fighter Jason David Frank, who starred in the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers television series as Tommy Oliver, said he plans to appear in the film in "cameos at least."

The Power Rangersfranchise previously inspired two live-action films from 20th Century Fox: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie opened in theaters in 1995 and Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie opened in theaters in 1997.

Yes, the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack are once again entangled with the Slitheen – or, to be more precise, they've fallen into the middle of a Raxacoricofallapatorian civil war! You've never seen these skinsuit-wearing shapeshifters in their natural hunting grounds... or witnessed them this terrifying! Trust no one!

The Twelfth Doctor continues his solo tour... or has he already welcomed a new comics companion aboard the TARDIS? We're not telling! Either way, it spells astounding interstellar adventure – with no limits!

Monday, 27 June 2016

The Japanese food company Kagome has announced a new “Ketchup Daze! Pokémon Campaign,” which will begin on July 1 and end August 31. Kagome, which sells tomato-based products and fruit and vegetable juices, has done two other Pokémon events previously, a “Pikachu Loves Ketchup Campaign” in June 2015 and a “Pokémon Home Cooking Campaign” in November 2015. Fans within Japan can participate by adding barcodes from participating Kagome products to a special postcard available on the campaign website and mailing it in. The new campaign merchandise will be awarded by lottery. A lucky 2000 winners will receive a Pikachu ketchup picnic blanket, 500 will receive a Pikachu ketchup backpack, and an additional 500 will receive a Pikachu ketchup hug pillow.

Kagome has also posted several cute Pokémon-themed recipes on their campaign website, including a Pikachu omelet, Pikachu omelet rice, and a Pokeball made from tomato, cheese, and seaweed.

An earlier version of this story left out the release of Sword Art Online II Part 4 - apologies for the mistake.

On Monday June 27, Animatsu will release the first half of the anime Parasyte -the maxim-, carrying the first eleven episodes. It will be released both as a standard Blu-ray edition and a 'Deluxe' combo edition; the latter is limited to a thousand units and includes a 'bearbrick' figure of the parasite character Migi. Sentai Filmworks described the story:

Unbeknownst to mankind the world is quietly being invaded. Alien beings known as “Parasytes” begin infiltrating humans one by one, burrowing into their brains to take complete control of both their bodies and their identities. With an insatiable hunger for human flesh these cold and calculating creatures mutate into grotesque monsters who feed on the unsuspecting when they're not hiding behind the faces of everyday people. Only Shinichi Izumi, a lone high school boy, is aware of the terror lurking in plain sight. After one Parasyte's attempt to take over his brain ends in failure, Shinichi's right arm is instead possessed by this monster with a mind and an agenda all its own. As Shinichi and his unwanted cohabitant, “Migi,” struggle for dominance of his body, the alien infection continues to grow and so does the trail of bodies in its wake. Now Shinichi and Migi must become more than host and parasite if they hope to not only protect themselves, but Shinichi's loved ones as well. As Shinichi and Migi's symbiotic bond deepens, will Shinichi be able to hold on to his humanity, or will he evolve into something more than he ever imagined?

Anime Limited is releasing the fourth and final part of Sword Art Online II, as both a dual-format Collector's Edition and a DVD. The set is subtitled 'Arc 3: Mother's Rosario,' and carries parts 20 to 24 of the series.

Manga Entertainment is releasing a Complete Season Collection of the anime version of Attack on Titan. Released on both Blu-ray and DVD, it contains the 25 anime episodes of the original season.

MVM will release a "Complete Series" edition of Michiko and Hatchin on DVD. The series, about a gun-toting woman and her daughter by female director Sayo Yamamoto, was previously released by MVM in two volumes.

Anime Limited is releasing the third 'standard' volume of Kill la Kill on both Blu-ray and DVD, carrying parts 20 to 25 of the series.

Takashi Iizuka, the producer of the Sega's Sonic the Hedgehogfranchise, confirmed at the end of the "Sonic 25th Anniversary Party" in Tokyo on Saturday that a new Sonic Project is launching in 2017. Sega's signature character celebrated his 25th anniversary on Thursday, June 23. Sega will provide more details on the new project at another "Sonic 25th Anniversary Party" event at San Diego on July 22. Twitch will stream the event live.
In addition to starring in a long string of games, Sonic starred in a 1996 original video anime project, the 2003 Sonic X television anime series, and the 2008 Sonic: Night of the Werehog short in Japan. He also inspired several American and overseas animated television series, including the Sonic Boom series which has a second season in the works. SegaSammy Holdings president and CEO Hajime Satomiconfirmed in February that his company is planning to create a live-action/animation hybrid film in collaboration with Sony Pictures Entertainment for release in 2018. The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reported in 2014 that Marza Animation Planet, a wholly owned SegaSammy Holdings subsidiary, is collaborating with Sony on the project with producer Neal Moritz (Fast & Furiousfranchise) and writers Evan Susser and Van Robichaux (formerly of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe).

Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino confirmed during his company's streaming program on Friday that Level-5 will release a new mainline game in the Professor Laytonfranchise. Hino indicated that the new adventure game will switch to a new main character, but not Layton's son Alfendi. He also said that the game will feature a "movie-level" voice cast, and he previewed its character designs and background art:

Level-5 will reveal more details on the new game during the "Level-5 Vision 2016 -New Heroes-" presentation on July 27.
Level-5 releasedProfessor Layton & the Azran Legacy in 2013 as the "final and greatest adventure" of Professor Layton. The iOS and Android game Layton 7launched last summer